Source: the New York Times

Amid growing concerns over screen time addiction in the United States and worldwide, the Office of the Surgeon General issued a warning about its potential health risks, particularly for young people. The office noted that excessive online use has been linked to poor sleep quality, higher levels of anxiety and depression, increased alcohol use, and other negative health outcomes.

The recent advisory emphasized the adverse effects of excessive screen time on overall health and mental well-being. Health officials highlighted that while technology remains an important part of daily life, parents who do not regulate their children's device use and allow excessive exposure to them may contribute to rising rates of anxiety, stress, and attention-related issues. The advisory encourages families, schools, and policymakers to adopt healthier digital habits, including setting boundaries around device use and promoting more offline activities.

While no definitive evidence consistently shows that excessive social media use is a strong predictor of whether a child will develop mental health problems, research by Candice Odgers, a professor at the University of California, Irvine, suggests that children who are already experiencing mental health or other challenges may be more likely to spend more time online.

Dr. John Torous, director of digital psychiatry at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, noted that the report may come across as overly certain in how it interprets the available evidence. He emphasized that it is challenging to draw broad conclusions about whether screen time is inherently beneficial or harmful for children, given the complexity of existing research. He also pointed out that, as the advisory itself acknowledges, digital platforms can provide meaningful benefits, including opportunities for social connection and the development of new friendships.

The American Academy of Pediatrics has previously issued similar guidance, and the report largely reiterates its long-standing recommendations. In fact, former Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy has advocated for warning labels on social media platforms. He has argued that sites such as Facebook and Instagram should disclose potential risks related to adolescent mental health.

Despite these concerns, screen time among children remains high, with the advisory noting that starting around age eight, children spend an average of four or more hours per day on screens.

The report also underscores the need to balance screen use with physical activity and other offline activities, including time spent on schoolwork. While the Surgeon General acknowledges that children and teenagers can benefit from digital tools, particularly for learning and academic purposes, parents are encouraged to set limits to help reduce potential risks to their mental and emotional well-being.

New Digital Platform Aims to Improve HIV Prevention and Opioid Use Disorder Care

Source: newsmedical.net

People living with opioid use disorder (OUD) face an increased risk of HIV transmission, particularly due to the widespread sharing of needles and other injection equipment. Many individuals in this population also experience limited access to healthcare because of poverty, social stigma, unstable housing, and reduced availability of preventive services.

To help address these challenges, researchers at Boston Medical Center have introduced a new digital platform aimed at improving HIV prevention and treatment services for individuals living with opioid use disorder. Known as Leveraging Informatics for Navigation and Knowledge (LINK), the initiative combines electronic health record (EHR) data with clinician support and real-time patient outreach to expand access to evidence-based care.

The platform is designed to streamline access to HIV preventive therapies such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) while also supporting treatment for opioid use disorder through medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD). The project is spearheaded by Alyssa Tilhou, vice chair for research in family medicine at Boston Medical Center, and has received support through the National Institute on Drug Abuse's Avenir Award program.

In addition, Dr. Tilhou emphasized that LINK was developed to promote more accessible, patient-centered models of care that can better support individuals seeking treatment. A more collaborative approach between healthcare professionals and patients is one of the initiative's primary objectives, aimed at addressing both HIV prevention and opioid use disorder while developing care strategies that foster trust, long-term support, and sustained engagement. The researchers believe the model may eventually be expanded for use across healthcare systems throughout the country.

Explainable AI May Help Improve Breast Cancer Drug Discovery and Treatment Decisions

Source: newsmedical.net

Breast cancer remains among the most frequently diagnosed cancers across the globe and continues to be the leading cancer affecting women worldwide. Data from the World Health Organization showed that approximately 2.3 million new breast cancer cases are recorded annually, with the disease accounting for an estimated 670,000 to 764,000 deaths globally.

As researchers continue searching for more effective ways to combat the illness, many have begun utilizing artificial intelligence to advance genomic research. These emerging technologies allow scientists to analyze complex biological information—including genetic mutations, protein activity, and epigenetic alterations—to better understand how tumors form, progress, and respond to different treatments.

More specifically, researchers believe that explainable artificial intelligence (AI) combined with genomic analysis may help refine how treatment options are identified for breast cancer patients. The strategy focuses on AI-driven drug repurposing methods that evaluate whether medications already approved for other conditions could provide therapeutic benefits for aggressive or hard-to-treat forms of breast cancer.

In recent years, AI technologies have become increasingly valuable in the early detection and study of cancer due to their ability to quickly process massive genomic and clinical datasets. Progress in machine learning and deep learning has enabled researchers to identify patterns linked to abnormal tissue development, helping improve predictions of treatment response, tumor classification, and potential drug targets. Scientists also highlighted that explainable AI tools, including SHAP and LIME, may enhance transparency by identifying the biological factors that influence AI-based predictions.

The study also highlighted the potential of drug repurposing, a strategy that examines whether medications originally developed for other conditions could be used in breast cancer treatment. Drugs not traditionally associated with cancer therapy, such as metformin and statins, have shown possible anticancer properties, prompting researchers to investigate how AI systems can pair these medications with specific breast cancer profiles. By integrating genomic, pharmacological, and clinical data, scientists believe AI could help identify more effective treatment pathways with greater efficiency.

Although efforts to fully eradicate breast cancer remain ongoing, the integration of explainable AI and genomic analysis shows considerable promise in clinical practice. However, challenges persist, including the lack of diversity in genomic databases, which may limit the accuracy and generalizability of AI models for certain populations. In addition, computational predictions still require rigorous laboratory investigation and clinical validation to confirm their safety and effectiveness before they can be widely applied.